Dual wheel assembly

ABSTRACT

A spacer block for a dual wheel assembly. The spacer block has a curved bottom to rest on the outside diameter of the wheel spoke and tapered dovetail flanges on the sides of the block receive the tapered side flanges of the spoke so that the spacer block is held against rotation with the rim should the rim slip relative to the wheel. The blocks have inclined protrusions on their ends which are forced under the rims thereby holding the rims rigidly against an inclined surface on the spokes.

United States Patent 11 1 Williamson Sept. 24, 1974 DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY2,757,971 8/1956 Malthaner 301 13 SM [75] Inventor: Russell K.Williamson, Erie, Pa. Primary ExaminerR1chard J. Johnson [73] Ass1gnee:Erie Malleable Iron Company, Er1e, Attorney, Agent, & Myers a.

[22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 284,356 A spacerblock for a dual wheel assembly. The spacer block has a curved bottom torest on the outside diameter of the wheel spoke and tapered dovetailflanges (g1 on the Sides of the block receive the tapered side [58]Fie'ld SM 12 13 flanges of the spoke so that the spacer block is heldagainst rotation with the rim should the rim slip relative to the wheel.The blocks have inclined protrusions [56] References Cited on then endswh1ch are forced under the r1ms thereby UNITED STATES PATENTS holdingthe rims rigidly against an inclined surface on 2,001,407 5 1935 Burger301 13 SM the Spokes 2,280,746 4/1942 Burger 301/13 SM 2,599,248 6/1952Forbes 301/13 SM 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 1 DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLYREFERENCE TO PRIOR ART The spacer block disclosed herein constitutes animprovement over the spacer block disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,757,971in its configuration which provides structure to hold the block in placeand thereby reduce rim slippage.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide animproved spacer block for releasably attaching onto a spoke of a castmetal wheel to space apart the rims of two tires mounted in spacedparallel relation on the wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spacer block having animproved tapered flange arrangement for supporting it on a spoke of awheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spacer blockconstructed to be retained securely on a spoked end of a wheel and usedto space apart the dual rims mounted on the wheel.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectionalview of a wheel according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of a spacer block andrim.

FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view of a spoke of a wheel of the type onwhich the spacer block is useful.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the spacer block according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a spacer block according to theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the spacer block according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular referenceto the drawings, a wheel 10 is shown having a hub 11 of a conventionaltype that has suitable outboard bearing cup 14 and a suitable innerbearing cup 14' for mounting it on an axle. A hub cap 12 of aconventional type is held in place by cap screws 13. Two different typesof rims are shown mounted on the wheel; the first is inboard rim 15shown to be of a flat base type, the second or outboard rim 16 is of atype used for supporting tubeless tires. The spoke 19 shown is of atubular type with a hollow 31 extending through it. The inner rim has aband 17 which provides a surface which is inclined and which rests onthe complimentary shoulder which is fixed to the spoke 19. The surfaces36 on the outer end of the spokes lie in a cylinder and it is on thesepartial cylindrical surfaces that the curved underside 32 of the blocksrest.

A plurality of lugs 40 are fastened to spoke 19 by bolts or studs andnuts 18 and each lug 40 has a shoulder 25 which engages the shoulder 24on the rim. Shoulder 26 is formed on the spacer at one end and ashoulder 27 is formed at the opposite end. These shoulders engage therim bands 17 and 41 and the spacer block 2l urges the rim band 17 toride up on the shoulder 20 when the lug 40 forces the shoulder on thelug under the rim member 41 thereby exerting a force on the underside ofthe rim band 17 and the rim band 41.

The spoke 19 will be one of a plurality of spokes, for example, theremay be three spokes, or more spokes, distributed around the wheel. Abrake drum 22 of a conventional type is fixed to the spokes by bolts 23.The spacer blocks 21 are supported one on the outer end of each of thespokes 19. The spacer blocks 21 may be made with a plurality of ribs 33joined by laterally extending ribs 34 connected by webs 35. The blockshave a relatively smooth undersurface that rests on the outboard ends 36of the spokes and overhanging dovetailed flanges 28 and 29 underlie theenlarged ends 37 and 38 of the spokes. The ends 37 and 38 taperoutwardly and the blocks are tapered from left to right as shown in FIG.6 so that the flanges 28 and 29 completely underlie the overhangingflanges 37 and 38 of the spoke ends.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a wheel having an inboard rim and an outboard rim,

a hub,

a plurality of spokes extending radially from said hub,

each said spoke having a spoke shoulder surface inclined radially andaxially outwardly and having opposite outwardly flaring longitudinallyextending side surfaces at the radially outward end of the spoke,

said inboard rim having a complimentary shoulder on said rim inclinedaxially and radially inwardly of said wheel whereby said rim shoulderrests on said complimentary shoulder surface,

a plurality of spacer blocks,

each said spacer block being disposed between said outboard rim and saidinboard rim,

said spacer blocks resting on said spokes and adapted to slide axiallythereon a limited amount,

each of the opposite ends of said blocks having an inclined engagingshoulder engaging said outboard rim and said inboard rim,

said inclined engaging surfaces being adapted to be forced against andunder said rims between said spoke and said rim,

and lug means having a tapered shoulder adapted to engage said outboardrim on the side thereof remote from said inboard rim,

said lug means having a lug stud and nut for clamping said outboard rimbetween said lug means and said block and said inboard rim between saidblock and said rim shoulder,

flange means extending downwardly from each rib and slidably underlyingthe flared side surfaces of said spoke, thereby sliclably and radiallysecuring said block to said spoke against relative rotation.

1. In combination, a wheel having an inboard rim and an outboard rim, ahub, a plurality of spokes extending radially from said hub, each saidspoke having a spoke shoulder surface inclined radially and axiallyoutwardly and having opposite outwardly flaring longitudinally extendingside surfaces at the radially outward end of the spoke, said inboard rimhaving a complimentary shoulder on said rim inclined axially andradially inwardly of said wheel whereby said rim shoulder rests on saidcomplimentary shoulder surface, a plurality of spacer blocks, each saidspacer block being disposed between said outboard rim and said inboardrim, said spacer blocks resting on said spokes and adapted to slideaxially thereon a limited amount, each of the opposite ends of saidblocks having an inclined engaging shoulder engaging said outboard rimand said inboard rim, said inclined engaging surfaces being adapted tobe forced against and under said rims between said spoke and said rim,and lug means having a tapered shoulder adapted to engage said outboardrim on the side thereof remote from said inboard rim, said lug meanshaving a lug stud and nut for clamping said outboard rim between saidlug means and said block and said inboard rim between said block andsaid rim shoulder, and shoulder means on each said block comprising areinforcing rib extending along substantially the entire length and oneach side of said block and slidably overhanging said flared sidesurfaces of said spoke, and further comprising an engaging flange meansextending downwardly from each rib and slidably underlying the flaredside surfaces of said spoke, thereby slidably and radially securing saidblock to said spoke against relative rotation.